, 1887-02-24
Grand Army Campfire.

Sedgwick Post G. A. r., held their
annual campfire and ball at the Con-
cordia hall last night. the attend
ance was very large, fully 800 people
being present. The exercises of the
evening commenced by a call to
order by Post Con- mander Childs,
after which the quartette very fine
ly rendered "COlumbia, the Gem of
the Ocean," Then was heard some
very fine music from the orchestra.
The first address of the evening was
BY Comrade ROuthe. The address,
though short was perfect gem in
thought. He spoke very feelingly
OF the time when the little badge all
the members of the Grand Army
posts wear--Ot the time when they
will be seen no more in the land, but
will be placed away with the tattered
flags as mementOs of the great battle
for constitutional liberty. We hope
to have the pleasure of hearing the
major again. The recitation
of Mr.. ShackelfOrd, of Sprague, was
exceedingly we'll selected. Mr.. S.
has very fine evolutionary powers.
We remember no recitation Of late
years that we enjoyed so much as
this one. We hope Mr.. Shackelford
will be present atthe next camp fire.
The last address of the evening was
by Mr.. Jno. l.. Wilson, who spoke
to the Sons of Veterans, who. have
lust completed their organization in
this city. Mr.. Wilson did himself
credit, as he always does on Occa-
slons of this character. He COM
menced his address by referring to
those who had marched with weary
columns over the dusty roads, under
the glare OF tropical sky; who had
biyOuacked under the pelting rains
of southern clouds; Of those who
sleep the sleep that knows no wax
ing, and asked what manner OF men
were those union soldiers? Quot
cd from Green, the English
historian, to show that they
were farmers and traders. He
showed that il was an army Of farm
ers and traders that fought with
Washington, and that 1t always had
been the Puritan stock that fought
for the largest liberty. He told the
Sons of Veterans that the noble army
of veterans, living and dead, did
their duty on the blood stained fields
of nations conflict. and that they
expected them to do their duty by
the magnificent heritage they had
given them. They expected them
to carry the stars and stripes still
full high advanced. They expected
them to teach, by their conduct and
lives, that there was eternal happi-
ness for those who love and serve
their country, and eternal hell for
those who betray it. That no gov
ernment in the world gave the citi-
zen so large an opportunity as this.
That il was the pride of our insti-
tutions that we have no defined
classes: but that the poorest boy in
the land has the sky above him
studded with the bright stars of
hope. He spoke of Lincoln as
the grandest character OF the
civil strife and the gent
lest memory OF our age.
He begged the sons of veterans to
do their duty and fight the fight as
Frederick the Great did the Seven
Years war, with bread and lead.
They might not win, they might
not have success, but they could, at
least, do their duty, and receive the
praise that if not Il successful general
they were at least good soldiers.
That the republic would live; live
in spite of those who would use il de-
spitefully, and of those who would
alter its condition. Happy are
those who in their lives contributed
something to its strength and who